Efficacy of the Modified Alvarado Scoring System and Radiologic Studies in Diagnosing Appendicitis in Children: A Retrospective Comparative Study.

Background: Appendicitis is a common diagnostic challenge in pediatric patients. Based on clinical and laboratory findings, the modified Alvarado scoring system (MAS) is commonly used to assess the likelihood of appendicitis. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of MAS compared to radiologic findings and its components in the diagnosis of appendicitis in children.

Paediatric Emergency Medicine: Reality, Expectation, Experience, and Need for Improvements from a Low- Income Settings.

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Use of Steroids in COVID-19 Patients: What is known?

COVID-19 pandemic has exaggerated the role of steroids in the standard of care despite minimum direct evidence of their efficacy in COVID-19 patients and their well-known adverse effects. The literature abounds on the side effects of steroids affecting different organ systems of the body. COVID-19 patients, who are on long-term steroids, are more susceptible to their adverse effects.

Clinical outcome of paediatric patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) receiving 3% hypertonic saline (HTS) in the emergency room of a tertiary care hospital.

Objective: To determine the clinical outcome and mean length of hospital stay of paediatric patients with severe blunt traumatic head injury (THI) receiving 3% hypertonic saline (HTS) in the Emergency Department (ED).

Methodology: This case series study was conducted at the Department of Emergency Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from 2014 to 2015 via chart review of 105 patients. Detailed history and clinical examination of all paediatric patients aged 2-16 years was recorded which included moderate to severe head injury as classified by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) by the Brain Trauma Foundation.

Pattern of relapse in paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in a tertiary care unit.

Objective: To determine the frequency, site and time to relapse from diagnosis, and to see the relationship of relapse with important prognostic factors.

Methods: The prospective descriptive observational study was conducted at the National Institute of Child Health, Karachi, June 2005 to May 2007, and comprised newly-diagnosed cases of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Bone marrow aspiration was done on reappearance of blast cells in peripheral smear and cerebrospinal fluid.

Impact of delay in admission on the outcome of critically ill patients presenting to the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital from low income country.

Objective: To assess the impact of admission delay on the outcome of critical patients.

Methods: The retrospective chart review was done at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised adult patients visiting the Emergency Department during 2010. Outcome measures assessed were total hospital length of stay, total cost of the visit and in-hospital mortality.

Frequency of metabolic syndrome in psychiatric patients, is this the time to develop a standardized protocol to reduce the morbidity from an acute care psychiatry unit.

Objective: To determine the frequency of Metabolic Syndrome among psychiatric patients and to look for the correlation between the two medical conditions.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2013 at the acute care psychiatry in-patient unit at Kingston General Hospital, Ontario, Canada, and comprised adult patients of both genders diagnosed under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. For Metabolic Syndrome, definitions outlined by the International Diabetes Federation were used.

Glucocorticoids induced allergic reaction.

Glucocorticoids can cause allergic reaction in rare cases. A ten year old boy, known asthmatic, was treated with intramuscular injection of glucocorticoids, followed by nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. His lips turned pale along with palpitation and light headache.

Unintentional, paediatric domestic injury in a semi rural area of Karachi.

Objective: To identify the characteristics of unintentional domestic injury in children living in a semi-rural area of Karachi.

Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was carried out at a private hospital located at the northern outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan, from January 2005 to January 2007. We enrolled 271 out-patient children of either gender with a positive injury history.

Frequency, clinical characteristics and outcome of diabetic ketoacidosis in children with type-1 diabetes at a tertiary care hospital.

Objective: To observe the frequency, demographic data and outcome of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in children with established type 1 diabetes and newly diagnosed diabetes at a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: The case record review was done of children admitted with the diagnosis of DKA at The National Institute of Child Health, Karachi from 1st June 2008 till 31st May 2009. All records with the diagnosis of DKA were reviewed and those children with only hyperglycaemia, or who did not fulfill the criteria of DKA were excluded.

Investment in paediatric tuberculosis prevention in Pakistan: loss or gain?

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of paediatric tuberculosis prevention, by reevaluation factors in children exposed to tuberculosis from less privileged strata of Pakistan.

Methods: This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted at National Institute of Child Health, from January 2004 to December 2005. Paediatric patients under 15 years of either gender, diagnosed with active tuberculosis were enrolled.

Factors associated with hydrocarbon ingestion in children.

Objective: To investigate the types of hydrocarbon ingested by children and identify factors associated with hydrocarbons ingestion.

Patients And Methods: It was a hospital based case control study in which medical records of sixty seven children with hydrocarbon ingestion, admitted through emergency department between January 2001 to December 2005 of Aga Khan Hospital were reviewed. Variables such as age, sex, types of hydrocarbons, amount ingested, socioeconomic status, family size, number of children, type of containers, trend of ingestion during hot weather, length of stay at hospital along with the outcomes were evaluated.